Airport Operations Manager
$95KHigh match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — FAA Airport Management Certification
Live · Guide v1.06310 · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
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NAVY · 6310Career Guide · Operations · VWC.CG.6310.R.04
6310 · NAVY · OfficerAircraft Handling
Aircraft Handling
Officer.
Navy 6310 (Aircraft Handling Officer). 240 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $78K–$95K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Training hours240DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEUp to 3 semester hours in Aviation Management
Tech roles4mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage3/6direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles
Roles your code maps to.
Industry tech roles your 6310 background maps to — picked from BLS-anchored occupations using your training, cognitive skills, and systems experience.
Sort · Match descending
/ 02 · Skill Bridge
The gap, named.
What 6310 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
Already have05
- 01Aircraft Handling Officer experience→ Rapid prioritization and decision-making under pressure
- 02Team leadership and supervision of flight deck personnel→ Team synchronization and communication
- 03Maintaining aircraft launch/recovery equipment→ Understanding of complex systems and troubleshooting
- 04Experience with Naval Aviation Fuel Management System (NAFMS)→ Familiarity with SCADA systems and data management
- 05Managing aircraft crash and salvage operations→ Incident response and risk management skills
To learn12
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
+Linux fundamentals, including command-line operations and scripting+Cloud computing platforms (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud)+Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools such as Terraform or Ansible+Monitoring and logging tools like Prometheus, Grafana, or ELK Stack+Containerization technologies like Docker and orchestration tools like Kubernetes+Scripting languages such as Python or Go for automation+Cybersecurity fundamentals, including network security and cryptography+Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems+Vulnerability scanning and penetration testing techniques+Agile project management methodologies, such as Scrum or Kanban+Project management software like Jira or Asana+Technical documentation and communication skills
How VWC fits
Vets Who Code is a free, full-time software engineering accelerator for veterans, active duty, and military spouses. We close the fundamentals — terminal, web platform, AI tooling, portfolio projects — so the rest of this list becomes specialization, not square one.
See VWC Programs →/ 03 · Civilian Pathways
Where your code lands.
Logistics Manager
$85KGood match
High demand
Skills to develop
- — Supply Chain Management certification
- — APICS Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM)
Facilities Manager
$80KGood match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Certified Facility Manager (CFM)
- — Project Management Professional (PMP)
Emergency Management Director
$78KModerate match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Certified Emergency Manager (CEM)
- — Knowledge of FEMA guidelines
Construction Manager
$90KModerate match
Very high demand
Skills to develop
- — OSHA Safety Standards Training
- — Construction Management Certification
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths
What the code built.
Cognitive skills your 6310 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
Rapid Prioritization
As an Aircraft Handling Officer, you constantly triage competing demands – aircraft recovery, refueling, emergency situations – making split-second decisions about what needs immediate attention to maintain flight operations and safety.
Transfers to
This translates directly to the ability to thrive in dynamic environments where priorities shift rapidly. You are adept at quickly assessing the urgency and importance of tasks, re-allocating resources, and keeping projects on track amidst constant change.
Team Synchronization
You orchestrate a large team involved in launching and recovering aircraft, including plane handlers, fuel crews, and maintenance personnel. Success hinges on your ability to coordinate everyone's actions precisely, ensuring seamless and safe operations.
Transfers to
Your expertise in team synchronization makes you an excellent leader in any collaborative environment. You excel at aligning diverse teams, fostering clear communication, and ensuring that everyone is working towards a common goal, resulting in efficient and effective outcomes.
Situational Awareness
Maintaining constant awareness of the flight deck environment is critical. You're tracking aircraft movements, wind conditions, fuel levels, and potential hazards simultaneously to anticipate problems and proactively prevent accidents.
Transfers to
Your heightened situational awareness allows you to quickly grasp complex environments, anticipate potential problems, and make informed decisions. You can see the bigger picture, understand how different elements interact, and proactively mitigate risks, making you a valuable asset in dynamic and unpredictable settings.
Degraded-Mode Operations
On a flight deck, things rarely go perfectly. You're adept at maintaining operational effectiveness even when systems fail, equipment malfunctions, or personnel are unavailable, quickly adapting procedures and finding alternative solutions.
Transfers to
You are uniquely skilled at maintaining productivity and effectiveness during crises and unexpected disruptions. Your adaptability and resourcefulness enable you to develop creative solutions and ensure continuity in the face of challenging circumstances.
/ 05 · Non-Obvious Matches
Roles the recruiter won't suggest.
Adjacent civilian roles your training maps to that conventional military-to-civilian advice tends to miss.
Hospital Administrator
SOC 11-9111.00You've been managing a complex, high-stakes environment with numerous moving parts. The flight deck is very similar to an emergency room, demanding constant vigilance, rapid decision-making, and seamless team coordination, making you a natural fit for overseeing hospital operations.
Adjacent · MatchEmergency Management Director
SOC 11-9161.00You've been planning for and responding to emergencies on a daily basis. Your experience in coordinating resources, managing personnel, and maintaining calm under pressure is directly transferable to preparing communities for and responding to disasters.
Adjacent · MatchLogistics Manager
SOC 11-3071.00You've been responsible for the efficient flow of aircraft, fuel, and personnel on a flight deck. This experience translates directly to overseeing the supply chain and logistical operations for a large organization, ensuring timely delivery of goods and services.
Adjacent · Match/ 06 · Training & Certs
What you trained on.
Academy
Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handler) School
Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL240hHours
6wkWeeks
ACECredit
Up to 3 semester hours in Aviation Management
Topics · 8
- Aircraft carrier flight deck operations
- Aircraft spotting and movement procedures
- Aircraft crash and salvage operations
- Firefighting techniques specific to aircraft fires
- Aviation fuel handling and safety procedures
- Operation and maintenance of aircraft launch and recovery equipment
- Visual landing aids maintenance and operation
- Supervision of flight deck personnel
Partial coverage · 3
- Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM)60%
Requires study of environmental regulations and specific chemical handling protocols beyond aviation fuels.
- OSHA 30-Hour General Industry70%
Some general workplace safety topics, record keeping and specific OSHA regulations not covered in detail during military training will need to be studied.
- Project Management Professional (PMP)40%
Formal project management methodologies, documentation, and stakeholder management techniques need further study.
Recommended next · 03
- Airport Operations Professional (AOP)Adjacent
- Certified Aviation Manager (CAM)Adjacent
- Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a focus on Aviation ManagementAdjacent
/ 07 · Systems Translation
What you ran, in their words.
Military systems you operated and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent | Domain |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated Catapult Control System (ICCS) | Automated industrial launch systems control software used in theme park rides or manufacturing processes | Operations |
| Landing Signals Officer (LSO) Platform/Equipment | Precision optical alignment and control systems; high-intensity lighting control systems used in air traffic control or port operations | Signals |
| Naval Aviation Fuel Management System (NAFMS) | SCADA systems for fuel depots and large-scale gas stations. | Operations |
| Aircraft Crash and Salvage Equipment (e.g., P-25 Firefighting Truck) | ARFF (Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting) vehicles and equipment used at civilian airports; Oshkosh Striker | Aviation |
| Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) | Advanced braking systems used in high-speed transportation like maglev trains or industrial deceleration systems. | Operations |
| Carrier Air Traffic Control Center (CATCC) systems | Air Traffic Control (ATC) software suites, such as those offered by Saab or Thales. | Operations |
/ Translator · Live
Translate 6310 into a resume that ships.
Pair this guide with the VWC AI-powered translator: drop in your service record, get back ATS-optimized civilian resume language tuned to the tech roles above.